Form retaining means



.Mme 23, 1936. 4 l Q s, COLT 2,@4433 FORM RETAIN-ING MEANS Filed Aug. 1.6, 1955 INVENTOR Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATI-:s

ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to concrete form retaining means; and has reference, more particularly, to improved releasable means for locking form wall holding elements in operative relation to opposed form walls. A

The present invention has for its principal object to provide means adapted for rotative manipulation to turn or twist tying elements from outside the form during form assembling and disassembling operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination a Xed means and a rotatable means, together with means for locking at will the rotatable means against rotation relative to the iixed means.

A further object of the invention is to provide opposed set-screw gripping means for engaging or coupling a tying element to the rotative means of the retaining device, and to provide a wrench receiving element on the rotative means so sized and arranged asY to be engageable by the same wrench tool which is utilized to manipulate the set-screw gripping means, whereby but a single wrench tool is necessary for both manipulation of the set-screw gripping means as well as rotation of the rotation means of the retaining device.

O ther objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same. y Y

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig 1 is a fragmentary transverse section through a form, the walls of which are tied together by a tie element and secured by the novel y retaining `means of this invention; Fig. 2 is an exterior end elevation of the retaining means, drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the retaining means taken on line 3 3 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken on line ll--4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an exterior end elevation of a modi'- fied form. of the retaining means; this view also showing the same operatively related to a rod type of tie element.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to thedrawing, the reference characters I0 and II respectively indicate opposed walls oi a concrete form. The form walls are ordinarily exteriorly supported by vertical battens I2, over which are engaged horizontally ex-A The means are provided to extend between the walls ID-I I with their end portions respectively exteriorly projecting therefrom. The tie means may comprise a tie-rod, as shown at R in Fig. 5, or may comprise a metallic tie-strap S, as shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, or may be formed of interconnected elements in various ways familiar to tho-se skilled in the building and erection of concrete casting forms.

The novel means for engaging the form wall structures to support the saine against displacement are secured to the exteriorly projecting end portions of the tie-means, thereby tying the wall structures together in retained operative positions. The novel retaining means, according to the present invention, comprises a stationary abutment plate I4 of suitable peripheral shape. Projecting from the outer face of said abutment plate Ill is a centrally disposed boss or hub I5 provided in its outer end with an axially disposed substantially semi-spherical socket or seat I6, iro-m the bottom of which extends a through opening Il. Integrally connected with the free end of said boss or hub I5, in circumferentally spaced relation about the socket or seat I6, are retaining lugs I8 for purposes to be presently disclosed. VCooperative with said abutment plate I4 is a rotatable member comprising a cylindrical body I9 having a longitudinal bore 2t therethrough. Formed at one end of said body I9, as an integral part thereof, is a substantially semi-spherical bearing head 2l which is receivable in said socket or seat I6, so as to be suppoifted thereby for both rotary and angular movements. Said bearing head 2l exceeds in diameter that of the body I9, thus forming at the juncture of these parts an annular shoulder 22. When the body I9 is operatively assembled with said abutment plate I4, with the bearing head 2l engaged in the socket or seat I6 of said plate, the retaining lugs I8 are bent inwardly to embrace the shoulder 22 of said bearing head, thus retaining the parts in assembled relation, whereby the same can be handled as a unit. Sufficient play is left between the thus inwardly bent lugs I8 and the bearing head to permit of angular adjustments of the body I9 relative to plateV I4 when desired. Formed in the external surface of the body I9, at one or more points, and in line approximately with the outer end oi the boss or hub I5 and said lugs I8 which spring therefrom, are one or more transverse channels or seating grooves 23, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth. Integrally formed on the body I9 adjacent its outer end are diametrically aligned oppositely and laterally extending internally screw-threaded necks 2d and 25, through which are respectively engaged respective lock or set-screws 26 and 2l having wrench receiving heads 28. Integrally formed on the body I9, to project longitudinally outward from the outer extremity thereof in laterally off-set relation to the bore 20 of said body, is a squared wrench receiving element 29 substantially corresponding in crosssectional size and shape to the cross-sectional size and shape of said lock or set-screw heads 28, whereby the same wrench tool which is usable to turn the set-screws 26-2l, may also be used to engage said element 29 for applying rotating force to said body I9.

In the use of the retaining means, the same is threaded over an end portion of the tie-means which projects from the interior of the form through a side wall thereof, until the abutment plate ILI abuts and bridges across the walers I3, whereupon the lock or set-screws 29-21 are screwed home to grip therebetween said end portion of the tie-means, thus securing the retaining means in holding engagement with the form wall structure. With the parts thus arranged the rotative body I9 may be turned relative to the abutment plate I4 for desired purposes; such e. g. as screwing together or unscrewing tie-rod sections to tighten or loosen the fornr; for turning an integral tie-rod to loosen the same from adherence to poured concrete; or for twisting a tie-means to longitudinally contract the same and thereby tighten up the forms; or for any other purposes wherein such turning operations facilitate assembling or disassembling of the form structure.

In Figs. l to 4 inclusive there is shown a novel arrangement of the retaining means of this invention adapted to engage a tie-strap S, and manipulatable to twist the same so as to longitudinally contract it, and thus tighten up the form. When the retaining means is threaded over a projecting end portion of said tie-strap S, so that the latter extends through the bore 20 of the body I9, the set-screws 29-21 are screwed home against opposite sides of said tie-strap S so as to firmly grip the same therebetween. The gripping effect of the set-screws is strongly increased by providing one of the same, as 26, with a substantially conical male portion 29 and the other, as 21, with a corresponding conical female portion or receiving seat 21 therefor; so that the strap body engaged therebetween is snubbed by the intertting male and female formations. When the tie-strap S is thus gripped, a suitable wrench tool is applied to the wrench receiving element 29 and thereupon utilized to turn the body I 9 relative to the stationary abutment plate I4. The turning movement of the body I9 transmits a twisting force to the tie-strap S, which as it is thereby twisted is consequently longitudinally contracted, thus exerting an inwardly pulling force upon the retaining means, which presses the same strongly against the form wall structures with form tightening effect. When, by such procedure, the forrn structure is tightly assembled, the rotative body I9 may be locked against reverse turning movement, under tendency of the twisted tie-strap to untwist and consequently relax, by inserting through a channel or seating groove 23 of body I9 and across a pair of laterally opposite lugs I 8, a locking piece 3D, which may be a nail, rod, stiff wire or similar device (as shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4). It will be obvious that the locking piece 30,

when thus disposed, will strongly and efficiently obstruct and resist any tendency of the body I9 to turn relative to the stationary abutment plate I 4, and thus permit relaxation of the tightly twisted tie-strap S.

Referring to Fig. 5, which incidentally shows the retaining means as applied to a tie-rod R, there is also shown in this View a modied means for receiving the application of a wrench for applying rotative force to said body I9. In this 10 modied arrangement, the squared wrench receiving element previously described is omitted, and in place thereof an outward projection or stud 3I is provided on the outer end of the rotative body I9, somewhat laterally offset from the bore l5 through which the tie-rod R extends. In utilizing this arrangement, the wrench (indicated by dotted lines in said Fig. 5) is disposed with its jaws straddling the projection or stud 3|, with the latter at the bottom of the wrench opening 0 or socket while the free end portions of the jaws respectively engage opposite side of the projecting end portion of the tie-rod R. As will be obvious, the projection or stud 3I will provide a fulcrum for the thrust of the wrench against the tie-rod, thus providing a two-point contact, whereby the leverage of the wrench may be exerted to effect the desired turning movement of the rotative body I9.

I am aware that variations, other than those 3U already set forth, may be made in the above described constructions, and that specifically different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the here following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:-

1. In concrete form retaining means, a stationary abutment plate having an outwardly open substantially semi-spherical socket and an opening extending therefrom through said plate, a rotatable means having a shouldered substantially semi-spherical head rotatably seated in said socket, said rotatable means having a bore aligned with the opening of said plate through which tying means may extend, retaining lugs circumferentially spaced around said plate socket and inwardly bent over the shouldered head of said rotatable means, said rotatable means having at least one external transverse seating groove aligned substantially in the plane of said retaining lugs whereby a locking piece may be. passed therethrough and between said rotatable means and certain of said retaining lugs to thereby secure the former against rotation, and means to ax said tying means to said rotatable means.

2. In concrete form retaining means, a sta- 50l tionary abutment plate having an outwardly open substantially semi-spherical socket and an opening extending therefrom through saidfplate,

a rotatable means having a shouldered substantially semi-spherical head rotatably seated in said socket, said rotatable means having a bore aligned with the opening of said plate through which tying means may extend, retaining lugs circumferentially spaced around said plate socket and inwardly bent over the shouldered head of said rotatable. means, said rotatable means having at least one external transverse seating groove aligned substantially in the plane of said retaining lugs whereby a locking piece may be passed therethrough and between said rotatable means and certain of said retaining lugs to thereby secure the former against rotation, and means to ax said tying means to said rotatable means, comprising opposed headed set-screws laterally entered from opposite sides of said rotatable means into the bore thereof.

3. In concrete form retaining means, a stationary abutment plate having an outwardly open substantially semi-spherical socket and an opening extending therefrom through said plate, a rotatable means having a shouldered substantially semi-spherical head rotatably seated in said socket, said rotatable means having a bore aligned with the opening of said plate through which tying means may extend, retaining lugs clrcumferentially spaced around said plate socket and inwardly bent over the shouldered head of said rotatable means, said rotatable means having at least one external transverse seating groove aligned substantially in the plane of said retaining lugs whereby a locking piece may be passed therethrough and between said rotatable means and certain of said retaining lugs to thereby secure the former against rotation, and means to aiix said tying means to said rotatable means, comprising opposed headed set-screws laterally entered from opposite sides of said rotatable means into the bore thereof, and said rotatable means having at its outer end a longitudinally projecting wrench receiving element, said element being of substantially the same cross-sectional shape. as that of the set-screw heads whereby the same Wrench means is operatively applicable to both set-screw heads and said wrench receiving element.

4. In concrete form retaining means, a stationary abutment plate having an outwardly open substantially semi-spherical socket portion and an opening extending therefrom through said plate, a rotatable member having a semi-spherical head rotatably engaging said socket, said rotatable member having a bore aligned with said plate opening through which tying means may extend, means to aix said tying means to said rotatable member, and said socket portion and the head of said rotatable member having cooperative means to detachably receive a lockpiece for holding the latter against rotation relative to the former.

SAMUEL S. COLT. 

